patrick7813

Chris, Thanks. Admittedly, my interest is in gunto mounted gendaito blades. When I encounter any gunto mounted blade that has unusual characteristics (e.g., Yasukihagane), I'm interested to pursue it further. I realize this isn't a "traditional" blade but was curious if the use of Yasukihagane gave it additional cachet over one not forged with it. Would there have been any "special" reason (hence including it in the mei) for using it instead of "western steel"? Maybe I'm attempting (or hoping) to read more into this than exists. Cheers,

I have a gunto mounted blade by Kanesane. The nakago, with a Showa stamp and "sane" hotstamp applied, is signed ”Motte Yasugi Ko Asano Kanesane Saku Kore” indicating the blade was forged from Yasuki steel. I can’t find any specifics to the significance of using Yasuki steel and/or including that in the mei. However, I have read yasukihagane described as a non-traditional or substitute tamahagane but that makes me further question using it for, presumably, a Showato. The blade is in extremely nice condition as is the type 98 shin gunto koshirae housing it. Is there any significance to the blade being made from Yasuki steel and does that imply a higher quality product? Ultimately, I'm trying to determine if I have a "keeper". Thanks for any additional insights. Cheers,

Thank you so much Morita san. I've been attempting translations for awhile and getting somewhat better but not yet confident enough to be certain. Regards,

Hi All This is what I’m getting when translating the mei on the attached photo. “Motte Yasugi Ko Asano Kanesane Saku Kore”. The kokuin was a giveaway for the Kanesane. It’s the first 4 kanji (after the Showa stamp) in which I’m interested. Thanks for any feedback. Cheers,

I found a copy at the Paragon Book Gallery (http://www.paragonbook.com) in Chicago, Ill and ordered one. Price was $5 and shipping $7.95. I’ll provide details when I receive it. Cheers,

Bill Great find and remarkable condition! I've only seen pictures and never known anyone who has their hands on one. If you still have it next year, please bring it with you to the Baltimore show. Cheers,

Chris Thank you for the invaluable insight. I suppose it's nearly impossible to determine who may have commissioned the blade. Cheers,

Chris Thank you. Do you have any experience indicating if this would have be done unilaterally by the smith or requested by the officer for whom the blade was forged? Admittedly, I've only handled 40-50 gunto mounted blades, but I've not encountered anything such as this until now. Regards,

Guys I've just purchased a gunto mounted blade forged and signed by Teruhide as "Ishido Teruhide tsukuru kore 石堂輝秀造之", "Kasuga Daimyojin春日大明神". I understand that "Kasuga Daimyojin" is the one of Buddhist gods. What I don't understand is the rationale or purpose for including that on the nakago. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated. Cheers and later,

It's a Shin Gunto but with certain Naval (Kai Gunto) characteristics (black lacquered wooden saya, blackened oval tsuba, tsuka with blackened canvas under brown silk Ito). All other fittings are standard Shin Ginto style. These are described in Fuller & Gregory and were used by land based Naval personnel supporting Army units. I agree the blade is an anti-rust steel. Cheers,

and I defer to the man holding them in his hands........

I shared your concerns with the photographer of the photos in the book who in turn passed them onto the author and collector of the dirks pictured in the book. He provided me the following: Gentlemen---I just checked out the fuchis on the four dirks in question (#47,65,67,71) and found them to be in their original, correct positions. Remember that most dirk fuchis have a bottom plate with an integral nakago ana that makes it impossible to mount upside down. Occasionally, you'll find a pattern whose fuchi is a simple band, allowing it to be mounted either way, so long as it fits properly. I still own all of the dirks in this book and have them in front of me---there's no substitute for hands-on inspection, and it's good to see you inspecting them so closely. Yours in collecting....Ken Banks Cheers,

Hi Eric It is my understanding that Japanese naval forces attached to land (army) units had kai gunto with shin gunto saya characteristics, specifically one suspension hanger, but in a black lacquered finish. The Japanese did not have an established “marine” force during WW2. These kai gunto typically had the tsuka wrapped with black stained canvas (vice ray skin) under brown silk Ito and with a simple seppa, ovoid blackened tsuba, seppa combination. Fuller and Gregory’s “Japanese Military and Civil Swords and Dirks” has an excellent discussion. Cheers,

OK, P.47 perhaps. Otherwise, P. 65, 67 and 71 seem correctly mounted. I don’t own any of these patterns and have not handled them either, so no firsthand knowledge. My source for the above observations is F&G. BTW, in my view, 4 possible hits don’t equate to “most”. It’s still a good reference book and discussion too.

It's been lowered. It was $5,500!

Hum, interesting comment. I’ve owned many Japanese Naval Dirks over the years and held many more in my hands. I closely re-examined the pictures of the naval dirks on pages, 11-39 (I stopped after that page) of this book and all fuchi appear properly positioned (i.e. not upside down). Of those I own or have held in my hands and/or disassembled, it’s impossible to mount the fuchi upside down. To ensure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, I even went so far as to compare the pictures to the descriptions/pictures in F&G and see no further indication the fuchi of those pictured in this book to be mounted upside down. BTW, I have no financial interests resulting from any sales of this book.

I received this book today. My assessment is that it’s a very good complimentary reference to the Fuller and Gregory books. Whereas F&G has detailed textual descriptions of the various dirk patterns supported with a few black and white photos and drawings (it was published 25 years ago), this book provides color pictorial “summations” of the various patterns/variants described in those texts (i.e., to me it’s more helpful to see color references of the actual patterns/variants described by the text). In my view, it’s a nice addition to the resources available to collectors or students of these dirks (a bit pricey but nevertheless a valuable resource).

Thanks for the heads-up Brian. I just purchased one. I've been looking for a resource with more detail than the half dozen or so pages in the Fuller and Gregory book. Cheers,

Thanks Chris. I appreciate the quick response. Yes, it appears an oil tempered Showato, in very good condition (no chips, nicks, bends with minimal age staining), well define chu-suguha hamon but otherwise unspectacular. Regards,

Hi Guys I got this sword from my son-in-law. It’s in poor-conditioned late war gunto mounts with a lacquered saya missing the leather combat cover. There are no stamps (Showa, Seki, etc.) on the nakago and it’s inscribed in Katana mei style. I hate to ask but I’ve been struggling with this mei for a few days (off and on of course). I’m totally frustrated now and any suggestions pointing me in the right direction will be appreciated. I’d like to be able to tell him who forged the blade he acquired. Thanks for any help.

Hi All I've finally gotten around to taking some pictures (see attached) of the tsuka David McDonald restored for me (sorry for the long delay). In my view, David provides an excellent service and results. Please judge for yourselves. BTW, he's currently working on another similar project for me (repeat customers are the best advertisement). Cheers,

Hi I heartedly endorse David McDonald. He has done similar work for me with great outcomes (and is currently working on another project of mine). He's linked above under 'Montana Iron'. I urge you to contact him; you'll be well pleased with the results. Cheers,

Actually, I have the tassel but thought I could show greater detail in pictures without having it attached (in most of them). Actually, you can barely see it looped through the sarute (in the one of the kabutogane and sarute). Now that it's displayed on a stand, it is attached.

Nice catch but not Fred's fault rather mine. I uploaded a pre-completion picture by mistake (I can admit that). Here's one showing the added screw on the Ishizuke. I checked all the other fittings requiring screws and they're all there too. Sorry for the confusion.

I went looking through my archives and found many pictures of the blade but none of the mounts. I only keep sent emails with attachments for 6 months and any I sent to Fred are now gone too. Sorry!